The central concept of knowing how to water Calandiva correctly is only to do so when necessary. Much like with most plants, you don’t want to overwater this cultivar, but you also don’t want to let it get completely dry. Calandiva is simply a brand name for the kalanchoe plant, which is a succulent herb.
Keeping this in mind gives you the idea that Calandiva is a low maintenance plant that will thrive well indoors. Therefore, watering it and other maintenance practices is generally straightforward, if not, unnecessary in some cases. Nonetheless, you may find it easier and more convenient to grow the gorgeous Calandiva in the greenhouse because the indoor environment is stable and less prone to conditions that can encourage pests and diseases.
How To Water Calandiva And Care Tips You Must Know
Watering Calandiva
As mentioned earlier, you are treating Calandiva as the low-maintenance kalanchoe plant. Therefore, it doesn’t have a high water requirement. Instead, water the plant sparingly where you need to let the medium dry in between waterings.
Once every two weeks
One of the most common mistakes is overwatering Calandiva, which, in turn, causes rot. To give you the ideal numbers from experienced Calandiva growers, you can water the plants once every two weeks. This will depend on other external factors, but being mindful not to overwater Calandiva is your top priority.
A useful tip is to check if the top three inches of the medium is dry before watering. You can then water it deeply and let the excess drain out of the container to prevent standing water. If you are growing Calandiva in the garden, you can soak the soil up to 6 inches deep.
What to consider when watering
Succulents are prone to rotting quickly, so always consider various factors. For example, how big is your Calandiva plant, or is it currently in bloom? What about the light, temperature, and size of its pot? Is there adequate drainage on the medium and container?
These are some examples where you apply your own judgment to how often you should water Calandiva. Not only is Calandiva prone to rot, but you also don’t want to put your plants at risk for mildew. Perhaps this is one of the advantages of growing in the greenhouse because you can also control the temperature and humidity in addition to watering.
Fertilizing Calandiva
Besides watering, you should also know how to fertilize Calandiva correctly. Those who grow Calandiva in containers indoors can feed the plants once a month from spring to fall. On the other hand, Calandiva outdoors should thrive well with fertilizing once a year in spring.
You don’t need a particular type of fertilizer for Calandiva as a balanced formula for flowering houseplants would suit this succulent. Make sure to follow the label instructions, and you might need to dilute the fertilizer first when feeding indoor and outdoor Calandiva plants. Since you’ll be adding water, the emphasis is necessary that feeding the plants with this formula will replace one watering session to avoid overwatering.
Ideal environment for Calandiva
Calandiva is not a meticulous plant to grow; however, it would be the safest to grow it in a controlled and stable environment like the greenhouse. This way, you won’t be subjecting Calandiva to extreme heat, coldness, and winds. It would be best if you also remembered that Calandiva grows best in full sun, and it’s ideal for growing zones 9 to 11.
You can also use the greenhouse to your advantage and create long nights and short days to encourage flowering in fall and winter. You can then maintain the indoor temperatures between 60 to 75°F for optimal development and health. Lastly, a neutral pH and well-draining medium will keep Calandiva happy.
How To Propagate Calandiva
The best way to propagate Calandiva is by division, but you can also grow the plant from stem cuttings and seeds. With division, you can use a healthy and mature Calandiva plant to create more copies of Calandiva. The process is as simple as digging out the plant and separating it with a knife before planting in new containers or areas.
On the other hand, you can also take 5-inch stem cuttings from a healthy parent plant and prepare it for planting as you would when propagating other plants. Remove the bottom leaves and leave the cuttings be for two weeks before planting. Whichever method you choose, the best time to propagate Calandiva is spring or summer.
Conclusion
If you want a low-maintenance houseplant or you need to add color in the garden or greenhouse, consider the Calandiva, a cultivar of the kalanchoe plant. However, because it is a succulent, you must learn how to water Calandiva to prevent diseases like rot or mildew. In general, the only concept you must remember is only to water when needed and let the medium dry in between sessions.
You can water Calandiva plants once every two weeks, and this should keep them healthy without the risk of overwatering or leaving them in standing water. However, it’s also crucial that you consider other factors such as the plant’s growth stage, the environment, medium, size of the pot, and the medium and container’s drainage quality. You can avoid watering problems by maintaining stable conditions using a greenhouse and growing Calandiva in a well-draining medium and pot.